Thermostatically-controlled valve mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 9, 1930. J. v. GlEsLER THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE MECHANISM Filed Oct. 30 1926 Dec. 9, 1930. r J. v. Gil-:sLER 1,784,057

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTRQLLD VALVE MECHANSM Filed oct. 30, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 tol Patented Dec. 9, 193

UNITED STATES, PATENT oFFlcE JEAN V. GIESLEB, F XNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS',

TO- THE FULTON` SYLPHON COMPANY, 0F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE THERMOSZlACIlICALLY-CON'IROLLED VALVE MECEANISM Application ledctober 80, 1926. Serial No. 145,345.'

This invention relates. to i thermostatically controlled valve mechanism and particularly to mechanism of this character adapted forcontrolling the circulation of cooling medium 5 through the cooling systems of internal combustion engines. The invention is capable of embodiment both in thermostatically cont-rolled Valve mechanism vof the choker type wherein the opening and closing of the valve determines the quantity of cooling medium in circulation and in thermostatically controlled valve mechanism of the by-pass type wherein the opening and closin of thel valve determines the path of circu ation or flow of said cooling medium.

'An object of this invention is to provide a simplified .thermostatically-operated valve unit composed of light but relatively strong and rigid parts which may be inexpensively formed and assembled.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide a devicev of the character described with novel mea-ns for mounting the thermostat.

Further objects of theinventionwill apvariety of mechanical expressions, one of which is shown on the accompanying drawings, and it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose. ,Y

Referring in detail to the drawings wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in i the several figures Fig. 1 is an axial section on an enlarged scale of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is 'a transverse section on the line 2 2 ot' Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cage-like support for the thermostat. Fig. 4 is a plan'view on a smaller scale of a blank from which. the support of Fig. 3 may be formed, and

pear as the. description of the invention pro- Fig. 5 is a valve seat rmg. p

In the form shown in Fig. 1, 1 is a thermostat' of any suitable character land possessed of any suitable physical characteristics, being shown as provided with a deeplycorrugated,

highly flexible, expansible and collapsible tubular metal wall, preferably of resilient metal, connected at its opposite ends in any .also contain the filling aperture 5, shown as sealed by a stopper 6 and solder 7. The

movable end Wall 3 is provided exteriorlyA with a stem 8, integral therewith or suitably attached thereto, said stem being`threaded as shown at 9 for the attachment of a Valve member thereto. Interiorly of the thermostat, said movable end wall 3 is shown as providedl with a tubular stop 10, integral therewith or suitably attached thereto, for limiting the contractive movement ofthe thermostat. The thermostat so provided is charged with aA thermosensitive fluid of any suitable character. p In conformity with the present invention said thermostat is mounted in operative position by'means of a combined cage and support 11 one form of which is shown in Fig. 3. As here shown said combined ca 'e and support is composed of a base portion 12 provided with an aperture 13 designed to rc1 Y .ceive the threaded boss 4 on'thek stationary plan View on a small scale of the I end wall 2 of t-he thermostat and a plurality ofv axially( extending elements or'armsl 1,4 bent at substantially right angles to said base portion 12, and angedoutwardly as shown at 15 at the extremity of each of said arms. Each of said arms is also preferably reduced in width adjacent itsextremity as shown at 17 for a pur ose to be explained, said reduced portions 17 ein preferably connected to the main portions o the arms 14 by beveled or inclined surfaces 18. vThe` combined support and cage so formed is preferably stamped out of and bent up from sheet metal, asuitable blank therefor being illustrated at 19 in Fig.

4. While the combined cage and support is of the character shown in Fig. 4, it is to be n expressly understood that the invention in its broader features is not restricted thereto, as the same might be built up of two or more separately formed -strip-like sections which are crossed at their base portions. Also, while the illustrated embodiment includes four arms, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto as a fewer or larger number of arms may beA provided, if desired.

The combined cage and support is reposition the plurality of arms 14 extend axially of the thermostat and surround the same with sufficient clearancefto permit the free Iexpansion and contraction yof said thermostat.

The combined cage and supportll is assembled with a valve seat ring 21, preferably of the character illustrated in Fig. 5. As here shown, said ring is stamped out of sheet metal and its inner periphery is provided with a plurality of notches 22, conforming in numberwith the arms 14 of the combined cage and support, said notches being of a width to snugly receive the reduced upper ends 17 ofsaid arms 14. The combined cage and support may be assembled with said. valve seat ring 21 by pressing inwardly the free ends of the arms 14 so that they may pass through the central aperture of the valve seat ring 21. The free ends of the arms 14 are then engaged in the notches 22 and relative rotation between the valve seat ring and the combined cage and support is thereby prevented.

Means are also provided for clamping the valve seat ring 21 against the underside of the outwardly projecting flanges 15 formed on the free extremities of the arms 14. In the form shown said clamping means is com"- posed of a pair ofmetal strips 23 and 24, preferably formed from sheetmetal and united to embrace the valve stem 8, as by rivets o r screws 25. Preferably each of said strips 23 and 24 is bent intermediate its length into substantially semi-circular form as shown at 26, or given any other suitable conformation, so that they are adapted to einbrace and guide the valve stem 8 in its movements. While it is preferred to bend both of said strips as shown, so that they are formed from duplicate blanks, said strips may be so designed that only one of them is bent, or their bends may be unequal, to embrace the valvestem. Each of said strips 23 and 24 is alsofprovided with hook-shaped ends 27 so that when the two strips are assembled as illustrated in Fig. 2, the hook-shaped portions at each end of the assembled transverse member will embrace between them the reduced portions 17 of a pair of opposed arms 14 of the combined cage and support. The width of the hook-shaped ends of said members 23 and 24 is such as compared to the distance between the upper or inner edges of the inclined or beveled faces 18 and the underface of the valve seat ring 21 that said inclined or beveled surfaces 18 will cam the sections 23 and 24 into firm contact with the valve seat ring 21, when said sections are united by the rivets or screws 25, and `thereby the Valve seat. ring 21 will be firmly and rigidly clamped between a pair of opposed ianges 15 and the portions 28 of the hook-shaped ends'27 which lie exteriorly of the cage arms 14.` While only a single combined transverse member-23, 24 has been illustrated, a second similar member may also beemployed, by suitably varying ,the Width of said trans verse members, so as to constitute a right angularly disposed transverse member connecting the second pair of arms shown in Fig. 2.

Apvalve member 29 of any suitable character is mounted on the outer threaded end 9 of the valve stem 8. In the form shown, said valve member 29 is provided with a central internally threaded hub 30 and a peripheral axially directed Harige 31 which is adapted to engage or seat on the valve `seat ring 21 exteriorly of the periphery of the flanges- 15.

In assembling the thermostatically operated valve unit embodying the present invention, a thermostat of any suitable construction aiid cliaracteiistics, such as illustrated on the drawing, having been provided,

and a blank 19 having been cut from sheet stock and bent into the form shown in Fig. 3 z-th'e thermostat is assembled with the cagelike support by introducing the threaded boss 4 through the aperture 13 in the base of said cage-like support and then firmly clamping said Isupport to the stationary end wall 2 ot' the thermostat by threading the 'nut 2() onto the threaded boss 4. rl`he arms 14 of the support are then collapsed sufliciently to introduce them into the central aperture of the valve seat ring 21 and said arms are then expanded to engage their reduced portions 17 in the notches 22 in the inner periphery of said ring. Said valve seat ring is then ixedly clamped against the underfaces of the flanges 15 by assembling a pair of members 23 and 24 around the valve stein 8, with the hooked ends )T embracing a pair of opposed arms 14 at their reduced portions 17, and then uniting said sections 23 and 24. as by rivets or screws. lAs heretofore'explained, the inclined or beveled surfaces 18 on the arms 14 cam the transverse members 23 and 24, as they are united, into clamping engagement with the valve scat Aring 21, and at the same time said combined transllO l and, by preference, the .parts are so designed that the inner edge 32 of said transverse mem`l ber 23, 24 is properly positioned to act as a.

stop, for the expansive movement of the thermostat, by .coaction with the movable end wall 3 or a part suitably mounted thereon or on the vali@ stem. It will therefore be perceived that tliereQmbined transverse member l23, 24 performs a plurality of functions it locks the valve seat ring against the ianges 15, it locks a pair of opposed arms 14 in their spaced apart position and inter.-

locked with the slots 22 in said valve seat ring, it serves as a guide for the valve stem,

and it may also act as'a stop to. limit thev expansive movement of the thermostat.

The valve member is then assembled with the combined thermostat and support by threading the same onto the end of the valve stem 9 until the seating flange 31 engages the valve seat ring 21, and preferably the valve disk is advanced a further distance onto the valve stem 9 so as to withdraw the tubular support 10, when such is used, from contact with the stationary end wall 2 of the thermostat. The valve member is then locked to lthe valve stem 8 in any suitable way, as by normal temperature, so that at all temperatures below that at which the thermostat. is designed to operate, there is an excess exteriorpressure acting on the thermostat and tending to collapse the same. In the event of leakage andthe consequent equalization of the interior and exterior pressure, therefore, the thermostat will tend to expand and withdraw the valve member from its seat.

It will therefore-be perceived that a simple -thermostatically operated valve unit has been provided wherein the thermostat is mounted and protected by means of a cage-like support which may be blanked out of and bent up from sheetl metal. Said cage-like support is also interlocked and carried by a valve seat ring which may also be blanked out of sheet metal. Moreover, the cage-like support and valve seat ring are interlocked against both radial and axial displacement by clamping elements which may also be blanked `out pf and bent up from sheet metal and'whic'h elements, when assembled, give strength-and rigidity to the structure and also serve the functions of a valve stem guide and a stop for the thermostat- When desired. rI`he thermostatically operated valve unit is therefore composed of a few readily manufactured parts which are easy to produce and assemble. WVhile it is preferred 'to make the component parts of sheet metal as heretofore described, such is not essential. It is also to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited to the use of any particular construction of thermostat, as the manner of constructing and charging the thermostat forms no part of the present invention. Also while the ring 21 has been shown as constituting a seat for the valve member, the valve seat 'may -bc otherwise provided within ythe broader aspects of this invention.

While the embodiment of thel invention illustrated on the drawing has been described With considerable particularity, it isto be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto as the same iscapable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which will now readlysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and proportion of parts Without departing from the spirit of this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the claims hereto appended for a, definition of said invention.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

i 1. In a device of the character described,

in combination l-with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected there'- to, a thermostat support having a plurality of axially extending arms, and a ring notched to receive and retain said arms.

2. ,In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a support having a base secured to sad'thermostat anda pluralityof arms extending axially therefrom, a ring provided with notches lo receive said arms, and means mounted on said arms to lock said ring in said' notches.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a thermostat support having a plurality of arms fia-nged at their outer. extremities, and a valve seat ring retained against the rear faces of the flanges of said arms.

4. In a. device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat having a plurality of arms provided with flanges at their outer extremities, a ring provided with notches, and means tolock said arms in said notches with said flanges in contact with said ring.

5. In a device of the character describe-d, in combination with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto,.a supico port for said thermostat having` a plurality of arms, a notched ring surrounding said arms, and means for locking said arms in the notches of said ring. including a transverse member disposed between opposed arms and preventing the inward 'movement of the same.

6. In a device of the character described, in combina-tion with a thermostat and a valve vmember operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat having al plurality of arms, a notched ring surrounding said arms, and means for locking said arms in the notches of said ring including a transverse member disposed between opposed arms and positioned to limit the movement of the thorm'ostat. v

7. `In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a'valve stem operatively connected thereto, a suppoit for said thermostat having ai plurality of arms, a notched ring'surrounding said arms, and means for locking said arms in the notches of said ring inclu-ding a transverse member disposed between opposed arms and embracing and guiding said stem.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve stem operatively connected thereto, a support .for said thermostat having a plurality of arms, a ring provided with notches in its periphery. and means for locking opposed arms in said notches including a transverse member secured to said arms, said member being composed of sections united to embrace said valve stem.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination-with a thermostat and a valve stem operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat having a plurality of arms, a ring provide-d with notches in its periphery, and means for locking opposed arms in said notches including a transverse meinber secured to said arms, said member including sheet metal sections bent intermediate their ends to provide a valve stem guide. 10. In a device of the character described;l

in combination with a. thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a support for Said thermostat having a plurality of arms, a ring provided with notches in its periphery, and` means for locking opposed arms in said notches including a transverse member secured to said arms, said transverse member including`a plurality of sections' of arms provided with flanges at their outer r extremities, a ring having notches in its inner periphery surrounding said arms, and

means for locking said arms in said notches with said ring engaged with said flanges, said means including a transverse member .composed of sections united to forma brace between the opposed arms of said support.

13.l Ina device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat having a plurality of separatsgarms provided with flanges at their outer extremities, said arms being reduced in width adjacent said fianges and having beveled faces joining said reduced portions with the main portions of said arms, a ring, aiid a transverse member mounted on opposed arms and coacting with said beveled faces to force said ring into Hrm contact with said iianges.

14. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat provided wit-h a plurality of arms, a ring provided with notches to receive said'arms, and a transverse member for interlocking said arms in said notches, said transverse member cooperating with said arms to lock said ring against axial displacement. Y

15. In a device of the character described. in combination with ya thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat provided with a plurality of arms, a ring provided with notches to receive said arms, and a transverse member for interlocking said arms in said notches, said transversemember being composed of sections connected to opposed arms of said support and positioned intermediate their length to act as a stop for the expansive movement of the thermostat.

16. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve member operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat provided with a plurality of arms flanged at their extremities, afi-ingr provided with notches to receive said arms, and a transverse member for interlocking said arms in said notches, said member being composed of sections embracing'opposed arms of said support and clamping said valve seat ring against said fianges.

17. In a device of the character described,

in Combination with a thermostat and a valve stem operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat having aphiraiity of arms, a ring provided with notches in its periphery, and means for locking opposed arms in said notches including a transverse member secured to said :i1-ms.

18. In a device of the character described, in combination with a thermostat and a valve stem operatively connected thereto, a support for said thermostat having a piurality of arms, a ring provided with notches in'its periphery, and means for locking opposed arms in said notches including :L transverse member secured to said arms and composedof sheet metal sections bent at their ends to clamp said arms.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

A JEAN V. GIESLER. 

